City mayor, council all seek re-election

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox speaks during a Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting at City Hall in downtown Tuscaloosa on May 22, 2012.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | Tuscaloosa News

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 11:39 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Tuscaloosa’s mayor and all seven members of the City Council say they plan to seek re-election in the municipal elections, which are about six months away.

All said they’re not ready to step away from the recovery efforts related to the tornado of April 27, 2011, but some said they had other, non-storm related projects they want to see through.

Tuscaloosa’s municipal elections are set for Aug. 27.

As of now, no one has announced plans to challenge any of the incumbents.

Councilman Lee Garrison said he hopes to return for a fifth term to help repair the image of the Tuscaloosa City Schools.

“Whatever I can bring to the table to help our school system turn the corner and reach the level of its expectations, I want to do,” Garrison said. “But in my opinion, if it does not go to the level it needs to, there’s going to be major consequences.”

The stiffest among these consequences, the District 4 councilman said, is the dissolution of the city school system and consolidation with the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education.

If a 6-mill ad valorem tax for school construction is not renewed in 2016, that could be the death knell for the city school system, he said.

“All ideas need to be put on the table to figure out what we need to do to get our system to the level it needs to be, so that every citizen of this city has complete confidence in sending their children to our school system,” he said. “If we can’t get to that level within the next two to four years, then I believe our city leaders need to give serious consideration into what all options are on the table, and consolidation into the county system is one of those options.”

Also seeking his fifth term will be Councilman Kip Tyner, who said he is on pace for a full recovery from his recent cancer surgery and does not expect to be slowed down in a new term.

Tyner said he will continue to focus on improving Alberta, which he said was the reason he first sought the District 5 seat in 1997.

“There is absolutely no way that I could walk away without Alberta being back from the tornado,” Tyner said. “We’re just about to turn the corner on what we think, hopefully, will be one of the most exciting comebacks — maybe ever — for an area of the city of Tuscaloosa.”

Seeking third terms will be Councilwoman Cynthia Almond and Councilmen Bobby Howard, Bob Lundell and William Tinker.

Almond said she hopes to return to her District 3 seat to help guide some park and recreation development for her constituents, but mainly it’s to be involved with the city’s storm recovery efforts.

“We’re just in the midst of so much rebuilding after the tornado that I feel that it’s important that those of us who started it kind of see it through,” she said. “And besides, I enjoy serving.

“I can say that I’ve enjoyed serving on the council for the past eight years and I’ve enjoyed working with my fellow council members to help not only my district, but also to move all of Tuscaloosa forward.”

Lundell said he hopes to return to office because of the pending development projects for District 6, which he represents. The projects include a potential shopping center for the large, vacant lot at the intersection of Hargrove Road and Skyland Boulevard.

Additional properties in the district are being eyed for supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses “we’re in dire need of,” he said.

He’s also involved with the citywide storm recovery and wants to continue as chairman of the council’s Public Projects Committee to help those efforts.

“We want to finish what we started,” Lundell said. “We’ve got a very good working relationship between the council and the mayor. We’re right in the middle of our rebuilding, and we want to keep that momentum going.

“We’re elected by district, but this city is so close that we’re all working together.”

Tinker said he plans to focus on improving District 7 and, in particular, the completion of the widening work for James I. Harrison Parkway, which he expects to get under way this summer. Howard said he wants to see the Oakdale storm water drainage improvement work finished, in addition to other work in District 1.

Council President Harrison Taylor said he wants a sixth term to have a voice in the reconstruction of District 2 and other parts of the city following the tornado as well as improvements for West End.

“I want to stay to make sure Alberta City ... and not just my district, but the whole city, comes back,” Taylor said. “I think it’ll take someone with experience to assist or lead in this charge toward a smooth recovery, a full recovery and a complete recovery.”

Mayor Walt Maddox will seek his third term as mayor to continue to work on the storm recovery, but also because of the residents and voters he called “his bosses.”

“I’m honored to serve in this position, and I understand that every four years I have to go out and re-earn this position,” Maddox said. “I think over the next four years, the planning and the work we have under way will really come to fruition.

“I really enjoy this job, I really love this city and I really love the opportunity to serve.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Tuscaloosa's mayor and all seven members of the City Council say they plan to seek re-election in the municipal elections, which are about six months away.</p><p>All said they're not ready to step away from the recovery efforts related to the tornado of April 27, 2011, but some said they had other, non-storm related projects they want to see through.</p><p>Tuscaloosa's municipal elections are set for Aug. 27.</p><p>As of now, no one has announced plans to challenge any of the incumbents.</p><p>Councilman Lee Garrison said he hopes to return for a fifth term to help repair the image of the Tuscaloosa City Schools.</p><p>“Whatever I can bring to the table to help our school system turn the corner and reach the level of its expectations, I want to do,” Garrison said. “But in my opinion, if it does not go to the level it needs to, there's going to be major consequences.”</p><p>The stiffest among these consequences, the District 4 councilman said, is the dissolution of the city school system and consolidation with the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education.</p><p>If a 6-mill ad valorem tax for school construction is not renewed in 2016, that could be the death knell for the city school system, he said.</p><p>“All ideas need to be put on the table to figure out what we need to do to get our system to the level it needs to be, so that every citizen of this city has complete confidence in sending their children to our school system,” he said. “If we can't get to that level within the next two to four years, then I believe our city leaders need to give serious consideration into what all options are on the table, and consolidation into the county system is one of those options.”</p><p>Also seeking his fifth term will be Councilman Kip Tyner, who said he is on pace for a full recovery from his recent cancer surgery and does not expect to be slowed down in a new term.</p><p>Tyner said he will continue to focus on improving Alberta, which he said was the reason he first sought the District 5 seat in 1997.</p><p>“There is absolutely no way that I could walk away without Alberta being back from the tornado,” Tyner said. “We're just about to turn the corner on what we think, hopefully, will be one of the most exciting comebacks — maybe ever — for an area of the city of Tuscaloosa.”</p><p>Seeking third terms will be Councilwoman Cynthia Almond and Councilmen Bobby Howard, Bob Lundell and William Tinker.</p><p>Almond said she hopes to return to her District 3 seat to help guide some park and recreation development for her constituents, but mainly it's to be involved with the city's storm recovery efforts.</p><p>“We're just in the midst of so much rebuilding after the tornado that I feel that it's important that those of us who started it kind of see it through,” she said. “And besides, I enjoy serving.</p><p>“I can say that I've enjoyed serving on the council for the past eight years and I've enjoyed working with my fellow council members to help not only my district, but also to move all of Tuscaloosa forward.”</p><p>Lundell said he hopes to return to office because of the pending development projects for District 6, which he represents. The projects include a potential shopping center for the large, vacant lot at the intersection of Hargrove Road and Skyland Boulevard.</p><p>Additional properties in the district are being eyed for supermarkets, restaurants and other businesses “we're in dire need of,” he said.</p><p>He's also involved with the citywide storm recovery and wants to continue as chairman of the council's Public Projects Committee to help those efforts.</p><p>“We want to finish what we started,” Lundell said. “We've got a very good working relationship between the council and the mayor. We're right in the middle of our rebuilding, and we want to keep that momentum going.</p><p>“We're elected by district, but this city is so close that we're all working together.”</p><p>Tinker said he plans to focus on improving District 7 and, in particular, the completion of the widening work for James I. Harrison Parkway, which he expects to get under way this summer. Howard said he wants to see the Oakdale storm water drainage improvement work finished, in addition to other work in District 1.</p><p>Council President Harrison Taylor said he wants a sixth term to have a voice in the reconstruction of District 2 and other parts of the city following the tornado as well as improvements for West End.</p><p>“I want to stay to make sure Alberta City ... and not just my district, but the whole city, comes back,” Taylor said. “I think it'll take someone with experience to assist or lead in this charge toward a smooth recovery, a full recovery and a complete recovery.”</p><p>Mayor Walt Maddox will seek his third term as mayor to continue to work on the storm recovery, but also because of the residents and voters he called “his bosses.”</p><p>“I'm honored to serve in this position, and I understand that every four years I have to go out and re-earn this position,” Maddox said. “I think over the next four years, the planning and the work we have under way will really come to fruition.</p><p>“I really enjoy this job, I really love this city and I really love the opportunity to serve.”</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>